Liquid filling system for bellows assembly



Jan. 5, 1960 s. N. CONTI ETAL 2,919,524

LIQUID FILLING SYSTEM FOR BELLOWS ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS GIRARD N. CQNTI EDWARD STANKO sm Jan. 5, 1960 LIQUID FILLING SYSTEM F Filed Oct. 25, 1957 G. N. CONT] ET AL 2,919,524

R BELLOWS ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS GIRARD N. CONTI EDWARD STAN KOW Kl a 45 BY J removed, the subsequent performance of the Unite States Patent 'buretor Company, Van Dyke, Mich., a corporation of L Iichigan Application October 25, 1957, Serial No. 692,372

12 Claims. (Cl. 53-22 invention relates generally to liquid filled bellows and, more, specifically, to a method and system employed in filling the bellows Whenever highly sensitive bellows are liquid filled, it becomes necessary, to remove all traces of any gases and moisture from the inside of the bellows. If these are not bellows will be affected disadvantageously.

The object of this invention is to present a method and apparatus by which the gases and moisture may be positively and easily removed.

Another object is to provide a method having the foregoing object, in accordance with which a fixture holding anumber of bellows to be filled, is placed in a fill tank and successively subjected to sub-atmospheric, atmospherid and super-atmospheric pressures, with the aim of voidingof vapors from the bellows prior to filling, and the acconiplishment of the proper and complete filling thereof.

A still further object is to provide an improved fixture of simple design for the purpose of accurately positioning andholding bellows for the filling operation.

The foregoing as well as other objects will become more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Fig. lis a schematic layout of the entire system used in filling the bellows;

Fig.2 is a plan view, partially broken away and hori- I zontally sectioned, of a fixture used to hold the bellows during filling;

Fig. 3 is an elevation partially broken away and in vertical section on line 3--3 of Fig. 2, illustrating typical fixture details; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the fixture and a bellows supported thereby.

Fig. 1 illustrates a supply tank generally at 10, which contains liquid, such as para-cymene, with which the bellows are to be charged. A- conduit 12 equipped with a hand valve 13 leads from the bottom of the tank tothetop of the bellows fill tank 14, which has a sight gage 15. A second conduit 16 containing a hand valve 17 leads from'the top of the tank 10 to the conduit 12. and communicates with it between the valve 13 and the filltank 14. A third conduit 18 has a three-way hand valve'19 therein which controls its communication either with atmospheric pressure, as through a pipe 19', or with a sources of pressure greater than atmospheric; and conduit 18 opens to the top of the bellows fill tank 14. The top of the fill'tank 14 is also connected by a conduit to a suitable vacuum gage 20, in this case a micron gage.

Another conduit 22 leads from the top of fill tank 14 to a vacuum trap flask indicated generally at 24; and a vacuum pump 26 communicates with the vacuum trap flask 24 through a suitable conduit 28 in which a hand valve 29 is provided.

A fixture, indicated generally at 30 in Figs. 1 2 and 3, is located in the fill tank 14. As illustratively shown, the fixture is comprised of three circular plates 32, 34- and 36,.i.e., upper, intermediate and bottom, respectively.

Bottom plate 36 contains four threaded holes 38, equally spaced adjacent and about its center, which coact with the threaded bottom portions of post-like spacers 40, and the spacers 40 are used in order to obtain the correct dimension between the upper surface 42 of plate 36 and the upper surface 44 of intermediate plate 34. This dimension is calculated on the basis of the length of bellows being filled. I

The fixture 30 is pre-loaded with the respective bel lows, generally indicated 46, before the actual filling operation is started, to receive which bellows the intermediate plate has a number of circular holes 48. Top plate 32 has a corresponding number of correspondingly spaced, registered fill holes 50 of smaller diameter; and each bellows 46 has an annular flange 52 adjacent its open top filling end 53, which flange is larger in diameter than either of the holes 48, 50.

The procedure to be followed in loading the fixture 30 is as follows:

After assembling spacers 40 to the plate 36, the respective bellows 46 are slipped through the holes 48 in plate 34. The bellows will fall through said holes up to the open end 53 of the bellows and its flange 52, which engages on plate surface 44 and prevents any further movement of bellows 46.

The upper plate 32 is placed directly atop intermediate plate 34, engaging bellows flanges 52 in such a position that the fill holes 50 in plate 32 will be in line with the holes 48 of plate 34. Bolt clearance holes 54 in plate 34 and similar clearance holes 56 in plate 32 will also be in line. The plates 34 and 32 and assembled bellows 46 are then placed atop the spacer posts 40, with their holes 56 and 54 in line with the four spacers, and bolts 58 are then inserted through the clearance holes 54 and 56 and screwed into threaded holes 60 in the tops of the respective spacers 40. So mounted, the bottoms of the bellows abut and are restrained by bottom plate 36 from axial extensible movement; while their tops are rigidly clamped between plates 32, 34 to prevent movement in both axial directions and relative to the bottom plate.

As thus fully loaded the fixture 30' is placed in the bellows fill tank 14, as shown in Fig. 1.

Filling operation At the start of theoperation valves 13 and 19 are closed and valve 17 is opened (Fig. l). The vacuum pump 26 is then started and allowed to run until the required vacuum is obtained, as indicated by the vacuum gage 20. When this desired vacuum is obtained, the conduit 28 is closed at the valve 29. Valve 17 is closed and valve 13 is opened after valve 29 has been closed.

The chamber of the fill tank 14 is then flooded by liquid from tank 1i until a predetermined level is obtained as indicated at the sight gage 15 of the fill tank. The valve 13 is then closed, and the fluid thusly introduced is allowed to set for a desired length of time before the next step of the operation.

After the fluid has sutficiently set, valve 19 is manipulated to allow atmospheric pressure to enter from pipe 19 and fill the chamber of fill tank 14. The chamber is allowed to be subjected to this pressure for a desired length of time, in order that the bellows 46 may be the fill tank 14, for the same purpose as theatmospheric pressure was used, plus the additional function of positively forcing the fluid into the bellows convolutions.

After this pressure has been applieda suitable length of time, the valve 19 is closed and the fixture 30 containing the filled bellows 30 is removed and placed in a temperature controlled medium so that the said bellows may become stabilized. When this is finished thebellows 46 are sealed by soldering their upper ends 53 at 62, as shown in Fig. 4.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved liquid filling system for bellows assembly in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the. art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by'the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A method of filling bellows and like flexible, liquid receiving tubular units, comprising mounting a plurality of the units in a way to determine and rigidly maintain a uniform and predetermined axial dimension of all thereof and to prevent axial movement of a part of each thereof in both axial directions, placin said mounted units within and in fluid communication with a sealed container, flooding said container with a filling liquid to immerse and fill said units, and subjecting said container to superatmospheric pressure to void said unitsof vapor.

2. A method of filling bellows and like flexible, liquid receiving tubular units, comprising mounting a plurality of the units in a way to determine and rigidly maintain a uniform and predetermined axial dimension of all thereof and to prevent axial movement of a part ofeach thereof in both axial directions, placing said mounted units within and in fluid communication with a sealed container, flooding said container with a filling liquid to immerse and fill said units, and subjecting said container successively to atmospheric and super-atmospheric pressure to void said units of vapor.

3. A method of filling bellows and like flexible liquid receiving tubular units, comprising mounting a plurality of the units in a way to determine and rigidly maintain a uniform and predetermined axial dimension of all thereof and to prevent axial movement of a part of each thereof in both axial directions, placing said mounted units within and in fluid communication with a sealed container, subjecting said container to sub-atmospheric pressure to evacuate said units, flooding said container with a filling liquid to immerse and fill said units, and subjecting said container to super-atmospheric pressure to void said units of vapor.

4. A method of filling bellows and like flexible liquid receiving tubular units, comprising mounting a plurality of the units in a way to determine and rigidly maintain a uniform and predetermined axial dimension of all thereof and to prevent axial movement of a part of each thereof in both axial directions, placing said mounted units within and in fluid communication with a sealed container, subjecting said container to sub-atomspheric pressure to evacuate said units, flooding said container with a filling liquid to immerse and fill said units, and subjecting said container successively to atmospheric and to super-atmospheric pressure to void said units of vapor.

5. A method of filling bellows and like flexible, liquid receiving tubular units, comprising mounting a plurality of the units in a way to determine and rigidly maintain a uniform and predetermined axial dimension of all there of and to prevent axial movement of a part of each thereof in both axial directions, placing said mounted units within and in fluid communication with a sealed container, subjecting said container to sub-atmospheric pressure to. evacuate said units, flooding said container with a filling liquid to immerse and fill said units, subjec'ting said container successively to atmospheric and to super-atmospheric pressure to void said units of vapor, stabilizing the mounted units, and sealing the same.

6. A method of filling bellows and like flexible, liquid- .receiving tubular units each characterized prior to filling by an open axial end, comprising mounting a plurality of the units in a way to determine and rigidly maintain uniform and predetermined axial dimension of all thereof, placing said mounted units, open ends up, within and in fluid communication with a sealed container, flooding said container with a filling liquid to cover said units and fill the latter gravitationally, removing said units from said container, and closing and sealing the open upper ends of said units.

7. A method of filling bellows and like flexible, liquidreceiving tubular units each characterized prior to filling by an open axial end, comprising mounting a plurality of the units in a way to determine and rigidly mantain uniform and predetermined axial dimension of all thereof andto prevent. axial movement of a part of each thereof in both axial directions, placing said mounted units, open ends up, within and in fluid communication with a sealed container, flooding said container with a filling liquid to cover said units and fill the latter gravitationally, removing said units from said container, and closing and sealing the open upper ends of said units.

8. A method of filling bellows and like flexible, liquidreceiving tubular units each characterized prior to filling by an open axial end, comprising mounting a plurality of the units in a way to determine and rigidly maintain uniform and predetermined axial dimension of all thereof and to prevent axial movement of a part of each thereof in both axial directions, placing said mounted units, open ends up, within and in fluid communication with a sealed container, evacuating said container to evacuate said' units, flooding said container with a filling liquid to cover said units and fill the latter gravitationally, successively subjecting said container to atmospheric andsuper-atmospheric pressures to void said units of vapor, and to force the liquid into the latter, removing said units from said container, thermally stabilizing said units and closing and sealing the open upper ends of said units.

9. A system for filling bellows and like liquid receiving units, comprising a sealed fill tank to receive said units in open communication with its interior, a source of supply of filling liquid, sources of supply of subatmospheric and super-atmospheric pressure, conduitry' communicating said fill tank. with said liquid supply and pressure sources and provided with valves to control said communication, and a fixture removably immersible in liquid in said fill tank and having means to clamp and maintain a plurality of said units in a uniform axial dimension, and to restrain a part of each of said bellows from movement in either axial direction.

10. A fixture for clamping a plurality of bellows or like units, comprising parallel and parallel surfaced-top, intermediate and bottom plates adapted to be clamped'in predetermined axially aligned spacing, said bottom plate having spacer means fixed thereto and projecting normal to its upper surface, said intermediate plate downwardly abutting said spacer means to determine the spacing of its upper surface from that of the bottom plate, said top and intermediate plate having registering openings'axially receiving said units, with the bottoms of the latter engaging the upper surface of said bottom plate, said intermediate plate being engaged by and vertically sustaining said units when so disposed, said top plate rigidly and axially clamping the units as thus sustained.

11. A fixture for clamping a plurality of bellows or like units, comprising parallel and parallel surfaced top, intermediate and bottom plates adapted to be clamped in predetermined axially aligned spacing, said bottom plate having, spacer posts fixed thereto. and projecting normal to its upper surface, said intermediate plate downwardly abutting said spacer posts to determine the spacing of its upper surface from that of the bottom plate, said top and intermediate plate having registering openings axially receiving said units, with the bottoms of the latter engaging the upper surface of said bottom plate, said intermediate plate being engaged by and vertically sustaining said units when so disposed, said top plate rigidly and axially clamping the units as thus sustained.

12. A fixture for clamping a plurality of bellows or like units, comprising parallel and parallel surfaced top, intermediate and bottom plates adapted to be clamped in predetermined axially aligned spacing, said bottom plate having spacer posts threadedly fixed thereto and projecting normal to its upper surface, said intermediate plate downwardly abutting said spacer posts to determine the spacing of its upper surface from that of the bottom plate, said top and intermediate plate having registering openings axially receiving said units, with the bottoms of the latter engaging the upper surface of said bottom plate, said intermediate plate being engaged by and vertically sustaining said units when so disposed, and bolts extending through said top plate in threaded engagement with said post and rigidly and axially clamping said top plate against the units as thus sustained.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,259,879 Lascoff Mar. 19, 1918 1,925,502 Schaetfer Sept. 5, 1933 2,126,532 Cate Aug. 9, 1938 

